O'Connell joked that while Rickman is very easy to get along with, he has learned not to impose himself on the Harry Potter star too much, telling The Huffington Post: "The only downside of Alan Rickman is that whenever you go out with him, he always picks up the cheque.

"It's starting to become annoying. I mean, you have to be really fast with a cheque with that guy. Before you even go into the restaurant you have to make sure you have your credit card out. But I really can't say enough nice things about him."

O'Connell continued: "I'm a little older so I remember him from some of his earlier work, whereas everyone I talk to can't believe I'm doing a play with Snape. I'm also quite cognisant to not bother him. I can't tell you how many people want me to get him to autograph a Harry Potter book or Blu-Ray."

The Defenders actor also recalled telling Rickman a joke that went awry, revealing: "I did try to tell him a joke that I don't think he got. I said, 'Hey can you believe that Kardashian wedding lasted as long as Voldemort's nose?' It was the first and last Kardashian joke I'll make with Alan Rickman."